Malaysia:
Thousands celebrate Wesak
by
Rizalman Hammim, Nurris Ishak and Minderjeet Kaur, New Straits
Times, May 13, 2006
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Thousands of devotees
thronged Buddhist temples nationwide yesterday to celebrate Wesak.
Temples were lit with hundreds of candles, and the sound of bells
could be heard miles away.
Bathing the Baby Buddha is a popular ritual during
Wesak
The smell of burning joss sticks also permeated the air as devotees
knelt to pray and seek blessings. There was also a carnival-like
atmosphere outside the temples, with many stalls selling flowers,
religious trinkets and food.
The celebration commemorated the birth, enlightenment and death of
Siddharta Gautama Buddha.
At the Kwan Inn Teng temple in Petaling Jaya, Housing and Local
Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting reminded Malaysians to
be thankful that they live in a harmonious multiracial and
multi-religious society. "We are very lucky to be living in a
country which provides for the freedom of religion in its
constitution," he said.
He also said Malaysians must help and accept each other regardless
of race or religion to achieve Vision 2020.
In conjunction with the celebration, the temple also presented
scholarships, study loans and donations, worth RM350,000, to
deserving students and charitable bodies.
At the Taman Jaya Buddhist Temple in Petaling Jaya, the scene was
similar with many devotees offering prayers and queuing to be
blessed with holy water.
At the Buddha Maha Vihara temple in Brickfields, the celebration
started at dawn with devotees observing the "Atta Sila" (Eight
Precepts).
This was followed by the hoisting of the Buddhist Flag by the Sri
Lankan High Commissioner, C.D. Casie Chetty.
The theme for this years celebration was Respect Human Rights,
Promote Mutual Understanding.
According to Sasana Abhiwurdhi Wardhana Society president Sarath
Wickrama Surendre, they decided on this theme as, in the light of
events over the past one year, "we realised that many Malaysians do
not understand their basic human rights".
"The theme is also apt because Buddha taught that mankind should
respect human rights," he added.
The temple also held a blood and organ donation drive, and its
Buddhist Institute Sunday Dhamma Schools organised a colouring
competition for children as well as staging a dance and drama
performance by its students.
Meanwhile, at the Mahindarama Buddhist Temple in Jalan Kampar,
Penang, the chief monk Venerable E. Indaratana Maha Thera led a
special prayer ceremony for world peace, happiness and
harmony.
He also said the Malaysian Buddhist Association was building 50
houses for tsunami victims in a village in Sri Lanka and donations
would be channelled to Sri Lankas Amata Foundation.
During the prayers, a 10-metre-tall Buddha, which devotees took two
weeks to complete, was unveiled and 2,550 bulbs were lit at the
temple to signify the 2,550th Wesak anniversary.
A devotee, Sapna Malhotra from Puna, India, was excited at being
able to celebrate the holy day in Penang for the first time.
The 18-year-old student said it was nice to see Buddhists of
different races gather at the temple to offer prayers to
Buddha.
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